About Joe Coates
As an artist, my goal is to provide new, original visual experiences, add something new to our visual vocabulary, and tell a story, and by doing so, to engage and involve our community visually and intellectually. My art often raises the question, “How was that made?” (engineered and constructed)
I learned to love working with my hands from my father, a pilot, who was also an accomplished mechanic and woodworker. I was introduced to welding as a teenager by the aircraft mechanics at the local airport. Initially, I welded to build and repair cars, but quickly became enamored with the amazing strength and beauty of welded metal structures and started welding for the sheer joy of the creative process. My love of things mechanical led to a GM Scholarship in Engineering at Duke. While there, I met an Outward Bound instructor who introduced me to rock climbing, and I found another passion. A few years later, my avocation became my vocation: I began a 33-year career as owner / manager of The Trail Shop, Inc., one of the first climbing / outdoor recreation stores in the Southeast. Meanwhile, I attended art and design classes at UNC–CH and started making art in earnest, using my engineering knowledge to explore strength and balance in sculpture. Over the years, while otherwise occupied full time with work and raising two children, I’ve continued to make sculpture. Now I am fortunate to be a full time artist.
Making sculpture fulfills my continuing desire for education, understanding, and communication. Sculpturing parallels my other passions of rock climbing, whitewater kayaking, and mountain biking. In all these pursuits, my goal is to take myself physically where my mind has visualized going. I strive to actualize imagined lines, ideas, and dreams, and add something new to our visual vocabulary. Using my engineering proficiency, technical skills, and careful choice of media, I depict my visions by executing physical techniques, challenging my viewers to see media, scale, space, light, color, strength, and balance in new ways. Each of my sculptures tells a story. Sculpture educates, promotes new thought and community engagement, and provides perspectives that permeate all facets of life.
Resume
Charles J. (Joe) Coates
www.joecoates.net joecoates@yahoo.com
Durham, NC 27705
EDUCATION
Duke University, Durham NC 1968-1972
General Motors Scholar
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Summa Cum Laude, Tau Beta Pi, Pi Tau Sigma
Vice President, Pi Tau Sigma
ART RELATED
UNC Art Classes 1974-1975
Horace Williams House Art Exhibition June 1975
New Artist’s Show, Liberty Arts Gallery, Durham November 2014
Come Out and Play/outside art exhibitions, Chapel Hill Summer 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
Installation piece in Truth to Power 3, juried exhibit, Pleiades Gallery, Durham
(Installation was reviewed by Blue Greenberg in Durham Herald Sun) July-August 2015
Juried 2016 Best of North Carolina Artists Exhibition, Duke Energy Center for Performing Arts,
Raleigh Fine Arts Society, 2 of 74 pieces selected from 523 submissions March – April 2016
Durham Artist Guild Member’s Showcase Exhibition, Suntrust Gallery April-May 2016
Seven outdoor sculptures for Burlington’s Willow Walk June 3-6 2016
DAG juried art show 2017 (reviewed by Blue Greenberg, Durham Herald) September-October 2017
Duke Hospital Invitational Show, 4 pieces accepted November 2017-January 2018
”Justice” Lady Justice Statue commission Maitland Law / Durham Center for Justice 2017-2018
Juried solo sculpture show “Analog Art in a Digital World” at Durham Artists’ Guild, entire 3000 sq.ft. Suntrust Gallery, Durham Arts Council Bldg. January-March 2018
30th Annual “Sculpture in the Garden,” NC Botanical Gardens at UNC-CH, Honorable Mention for “The Imposition of Our Will Upon Nature” (one of 5 awards out of 95 sculptures) Fall 2018
Winner for “Open Hand” at 33rd Annual Sculpture Celebration, Caldweld Arts Council/NC Arts Council September 2018
Fayetteville Public Art, “Sundown/Off Belay sculpture June 2018-June 2019
34th Annual Sculpture Celebration, Caldweld Arts Council/NC Arts Council, Winner for “Steelhead” September 2019
31th Annual “Sculpture in the Garden,” NC Botanical Gardens at UNCCH, “Ground Effect” (runner up People’s Choice Award) and “Steelhead” sculptures Fall 2019
National Public Art Archive: “Justice” and “Ground Effect” Durham, NC 2020, 2021
32nd Annual “Sculpture in the Garden,” NC Botanical Gardens at UNCCH: “Sundown/Off Belay” and “Skyscape Mobile” (sold) Fall 2020
“Open Hand” sculpture, Goldsboro Public Art exhibition October 2020-October2021
Install 3 permanent sculptures at Duke University Engineering Building, “Ground Effect”, “Imposition of Our Will Upon Nature I and II” 2021
WORK EXPERIENCE
Full-time sculptor at Liberty Arts Sculpture Studio and Foundry, Welding Instructor 2014- 2020
Chair, Artist Advisor Committee
Organic Transit 2013-2014
Project Engineer
Defined and documented build process for assembling electric pedal-powered vehicle (“Elf”)
Researched, implemented, and manage cloud-based MRP software, including inventory management
Purchasing agent
Employee Mentor
Real Estate Management 2007-present
Owner and manager commercial real estate
The Trail Shop, Inc. Co-founder, President, and CEO 1974-2007
Triangle’s first outdoor retailer, promoting backpacking, climbing, kayaking, sailing,
canoeing, and wind-surfing w/ store locations in Chapel Hill, Raleigh, and Charlotte
33 years of small business experience in finance/investment, personnel, purchasing, sales, advertising, IT
Head Instructor and Course Designer: teaching kayaking, canoeing, wind-surfing, sailing, rock-climbing, skiing, snow-boarding; specialist in whitewater kayaking
First Ascents throughout North Carolina rock climbing areas
First Ascents in Alaskan Cathedral Spires with Royal Robbins, summer 1976
Designed and built building for business at 308 W. Franklin St., Chapel Hill which received Town of Chapel Hill Awards for Building Excellence and Historical Preservation
Proctor and Gamble, Managing and Design Engineer 1971
Allied Chemical, Managing Engineer, Supervisor of Planning and Scheduling, Purchasing Agent 1972-1973
Material Handling Engineering, Engineer 1973
Designed and marketed industrial paper-recycling equipment
COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER AND TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Outdoors for All 2003-2008
Lead Ski, snowboard, and rock-climbing instructor for individuals with physical and developmental disabilities
Habitat for Humanity 2002-2011
Supervised home construction for individuals in need
Reality Center 2008- 2014
Volunteer in activities to enhance quality of life for persons with cognitive impairments
Duke Chapel, Duke University 2008-present
Volunteer at Urban Ministries for the homeless
Repair and maintain Duke Chapel and offices
Johnson Internship Program 2011-2013
Mentor, Young adults training for career in non-profit agencies
Duke University Hospital
Patient advocate, Duke University Emergency Department 2013
Community “Best Neighbor” Award 2008
Seattle Mayor’s Award for community service